Party leaders in conjunction with faithfuls supporters and volunteers of the presidential candidate of the emerging party, Alliance for New Nigeria (ANN), Fela Durotoye, has unveiled Khadija Abdullahi-Iya as the running mate of the presidential race towards 2019 election.
The official presentation of the Bida-born lawyer as the vice-presidentail candidate was made during the party’s general meeting in Lagos on Tuesday, while the the entire members were gladly to receive her amidst cheers.
According to the Director General of the ANN 2019 Presidential Campaign, Lanre Oyegbola, the development marked another milestone in the journey to the 2019 general elections, because the choice of Mrs Khadijah Abdullahi-Iya presents the Alliance for New Nigeria greater foothold in the Northern part of Nigeria.
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In his remarks, Durotoye stated that her nomination was made on merit and conscious effort to genuine project unity as a Nigerian, just as he noted that her running mate was a testament of the party’s philosophy in involving Nigerian women into active politics, as well as to establish gender equality in the Nigerian political system.
“The decision to pick Mrs Khadijah Abdullahi-Iya as my running mate is both a fulfillment of my promise to pick a female vice-presidential candidate and a statement that affirms the theme of the campaign – ‘Opportunities for All’ and the position of Alliance for New Nigeria in ensuring that women have equal splits and representation and not the meager 30 percent of the old establishment.
While after accepting the offer, Abdullahi-Iya, noted that she gladly accepted the call to serve her fatherland with all whole heart. She also promised hat she was ready to join the party to fight the cause for a new and better Nigeria.
“I thank you all for this regconition. I am glad to be part of this great family and I appreciate the love of this party. This is what is expected of us a a Nigerian. I am tired of hatred. I want us to change from the bad orientation of this country. A lot of Nigerians are complaining and expressing their grievances on the situation of the country and bad governance, but what are we as an individual doing about it. We must all stand to make things right and make the country a better place. ANN is the only party that can make this difference and bring succour into Nigerian politics. We the younger generation must all ensure that the old people leave the seat of power in 2019,” she added.
However, Abdullahi-Iya is an award-winning innovator, a serial social entrepreneur, publisher, mentor, author, and social change actor, who passionate about her community and committed in raising hopes of the younger generation.
She is also a lawyer, as she holds an LLB Law from the University of Abuja and Masters in Law and Diplomacy from the University of Jos. She has also made continuous learning, focus and determination as her strategy to personal growth and development.
Khadijah has founded a variety of social enterprises & businesses. She is the Editor-in-Chief /CEO of S. I. Magazine Ltd and an Executive Director of Beyond Mentors Inc. She sits on the Board of a few SMEs and possesses over Ten (10) years experience in humanitarian and community outreach programs.
She consults and facilitate programmes and trainings for SME’s in collaboration with Governmental/Non Governmental Agencies or organisation. As the founder/Executive Director of Beyond Mentors Inc. a non-Governmental organisation originally set up as a social enterprise has evolved to an NGO- Beyond Mentors Community Care Initiatives (BMCCi), which was conceived out of the need to address and prevent poverty from the cradle in Nigeria especially, Northern Nigeria.
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